SF 457 amends the address confidentiality program, which serves victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, and human trafficking. The bill allows program participants to provide a shelter's name and contact information instead of a physical address for their residential or mailing address. It also updates reasons for canceling program certification, including death or a participant's request to remove an adult household member. Additionally, the bill enables the Secretary of State to hold a participant's mail for up to 30 days upon request and allows participants to register as absentee voters for the entire length of their certification period, rather than annually. Finally, it requires election officials to cancel a participant's voter registration if they are registered in another state.
HF 653 mandates that individuals and businesses responsible for sales and use tax must file their returns electronically. If a required electronic return is submitted non-electronically without an exception, it will not be considered a valid filing. Taxpayers can request permission from the department director to use an alternative filing method if they are unable to file electronically. The bill also grants the department authority to adopt rules for administering these provisions and takes effect upon enactment.
SF 471 modifies regulations for self-storage facilities, affecting both operators and occupants. The bill clarifies that using a leased space for residential purposes immediately puts an occupant in default, allowing the operator to limit access. It also establishes that an occupant's failure to sign and return a written rental agreement within 30 days, after taking or retaining possession, constitutes acceptance of its terms. Furthermore, if an occupant defaults or an agreement is not renewed, operators must provide 15 days' notice to remove property, during which they can restrict access to office hours if specified in the rental agreement.
HF 163 aims to enhance school safety by requiring the creation of multidisciplinary threat assessment teams in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools. These teams will coordinate resources to assess and intervene when K-12 students exhibit behavior that may pose a threat to school safety. The bill also authorizes "covered entities," including schools, the judicial branch, and criminal justice agencies, to share records and information about students at risk of mental illness or posing a significant threat, to ensure access to appropriate services or safety. Additionally, it provides civil liability immunity to individuals who, in good faith, report or investigate credible dangers of serious harm on school property.
HF 795 modifies the definition of "units sold" used for cigarette and tobacco regulation and taxation. For individual cigarettes, the bill specifies that "units sold" will be measured by packs required to bear the state's excise stamp. For roll-your-own tobacco, "units sold" will be measured by the tobacco on which tax is due under Code chapter 453A. The Department of Revenue is still responsible for establishing rules to determine the amount of excise tax paid. This bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
HF 28, known as the "Iowa Land Redevelopment Trust Act," establishes a framework for municipalities to create land redevelopment trusts. These trusts are public entities designed to acquire and manage dilapidated, abandoned, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties within their jurisdiction. The goal is to return these properties to productive use, which could include revitalizing areas, providing affordable housing, or attracting new industry. Municipalities, either individually or jointly, can create these trusts, which would be governed by a board of directors.
House File 165 requires all high school students in public and nonpublic schools, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, to pass a civics test as a condition for graduation. Individuals seeking a high school equivalency diploma will also need to pass this assessment. The test consists of the multiple-choice questions from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization civics test. Students must correctly answer at least 60% of the questions and are allowed to retake the test as many times as needed without any fees from the school.
HF 957 establishes the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing Program and outlines its funding mechanisms. It creates dedicated funds and accounts, managed by the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Finance Authority, which are separate from the state's general fund. The bill authorizes the Iowa Finance Authority to issue tax-exempt bonds and notes to finance the program and secure state matching funds for federal disaster relief. These bonds are secured by program revenues and are not considered state debt, providing a specific financial structure for natural hazard mitigation projects.
HF 909 establishes a Veterans Service Organization Grant Program under the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program provides matching funds to eligible veterans service organizations, as defined by federal regulations, to help them employ staff who assist veterans with claims. The bill creates a dedicated grant fund within the state treasury and appropriates $250,000 for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025, for deposit into this fund. Organizations must demonstrate they will provide matching funds for each staff position to receive a grant.
HF 1012 proposes changes related to natural hazard mitigation financing and other disaster recovery programs in Iowa. It establishes new provisions for the Natural Hazard Mitigation Financing Program, creating dedicated funds and accounts that are separate from the state's general fund. The bill authorizes the Iowa Finance Authority to issue bonds and notes to fund a revolving loan fund for natural hazard mitigation projects. These funds are also intended to provide state matching funds required for federal disaster relief. This aims to support projects that reduce risks from natural hazards for affected communities and loan recipients.
HF 641 primarily modifies regulations concerning city civil service employees and their disciplinary processes. The bill prohibits cities with civil service commissions from establishing citizen review boards for police officer conduct. It revises disciplinary standards for employees, requiring "just cause" and proof by a "preponderance of the evidence" for actions like removal or demotion, and mandates that imposed punishment be proportionate. Additionally, the bill introduces new due process protections for employees, including the right to exculpatory evidence and access to relevant documents, while also adjusting procedures for civil service commission hearings and the number of commissioners in larger cities.
Bill HF 391 requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to incorporate specific content related to pregnancy and fetal development into their curricula. This affects students in grades seven through twelve. The bill mandates that human growth and development (grades 7-8) and health (grades 9-12) curricula include instruction on human biology related to pregnancy and development inside the womb. Key provisions require the use of a high-definition ultrasound video, at least three minutes long, showing early fetal organ development. It also requires a computer-generated rendering or animation, similar to the "Meet Baby Olivia" video, depicting fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus until birth.
